New firm, 75 high-paying jobs headed to Osceola OSCEOLA (AP) — A business that recycles precious metals from junked electronics equipment broke ground Tuesday in Osceola, where the company promised to bring 75 high-paying jobs to work at the $35 million plant. The ceremony drew former Vice President Al Gore, who is a partner in the Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers venture capital firm, which is investing in the business, BlueOak Arkansas. Workers at the plant in northeast Arkansas will ex...

Wal-Mart CEO: speed up pace of change FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — Wal-Mart's CEO Doug McMillon said the world's largest retailer's task is to more quickly bring e-commerce together with physical stores to better serve shoppers. At Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s annual shareholders meeting on Friday, McMillon talked about a service that Wal-Mart offers at its Asda.com Web site in the U.K., where customers can order groceries online and then pick them up from trucks at various pickup points. He als...

Former Nordex plant to become railcar repair site JONESBORO (AP) — A railcar maintenance company announced Thursday it will move into the former Nordex USA wind turbine plant in Jonesboro and intends to hire up to 350 employees. TrinityRail Maintenance Services Inc. said it will expand the facility to accommodate its work. Once the expansion is complete, the company said, it would reach its employment target. TrinityRail is a subsidiary of Trinity Industries Inc. of Dallas. In addition to mai...

Wal-Mart faces big hurdles The world's largest retailer faces new challenges at a time when low prices and one-stop shopping can be a few clicks away on a tablet computer or mobile phone. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. built its reputation on everyday low prices and convenient supercenters that allow customers to do all their shopping in one place. But revenue at established Wal-Mart stores in the U.S., which account for 60 percent of the company's total sales, has declined for f...

EPA seeks nearly 45 percent carbon cut in Arkansas While some Arkansas utility companies have made strides in recent years to curb emissions from coal-fired power plant operations, a new federal proposal means the energy industry will need to do more to further reduce carbon dioxide output in the state. The plan introduced Monday by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce earth-warming carbon dioxide emissions from power plants suggests a cut of nearly 45 percent by 2030 for Arkansas — a...

Corporation to build new rice mill at Pine Bluff PINE BLUFF (AP) — Economic development officials say a new rice mill is headed to Pine Bluff. The state announced Monday that Southwind Milling Co. LLC will build a rice mill at the Port of Pine Bluff. The corporation is part of Optimum Group, which has been farming in Mississippi Delta states since 2010. Construction of the new mill is expected to begin immediately at the site in the Pine Bluff Port's Harbor Industrial District. Officials say...

Goodwill Industries hosts conservation event LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Goodwill Industries of Arkansas plans to host a luncheon to promote energy conservation. The Putting Green to Work lunch is scheduled for June 26. The luncheons are a partnership between the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions and feature businesses and organizations that have excelled at energy conservation and other sustainable practices. Goodwill is a two-time finalist for the...

Financial advice for new fathersEach year when Father’s Day rolls around, I’m reminded that I wouldn’t trade the experience of raising my two kids for the world. But when I think back to how naïve my wife and I once were about the costs of raising children, I can’t help wishing we’d been better prepared. If you’re a new dad, or about to become one, you’d better sit down. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a typical middle-income family can expect to spend over ...

ArcBest Corp. to expand Fort Smith operations FORT SMITH. (AP) — Fort Smith-based ArcBest Corporation has announced plans to purchase 40 acres at Chafee Crossing in Fort Smith where it plans to build a new corporate headquarters and add up to 975 new jobs. Company officials joined with state and local officials to announce the plans during a news conference Friday in Fort Smith. ArcBest was formerly known as Arkansas Best Corporation and is a freight transportation and logistics company. ...

New regional airport opens in St. Francis County COLT (AP) — Officials have marked the opening of the new Delta Regional Airport in eastern Arkansas. State and local officials attending a gate-opening ceremony Thursday at the new facility in Colt. The new regional airport will eventually replace current airports in Wynne and Forrest City. Delta Regional Airport Authority Chairman John Kerr says plans have been in the works for more than 11 years for the new facility. The airport has a 5,000-...

GP announces $40M expansion at Fort Smith plant FORT SMITH (AP) — Georgia-Pacific says it will invest $40 million in an expansion at its Fort Smith plant, which manufactures paper plates and other paper products. Georgia-Pacific said Thursday that the new technology and equipment will increase the Dixie plant's current capacity for assorted sizes of paper plates. The plant now employs 350 workers, but the company says that number may grow once the expansion is complete next year. The compan...

Innovation Industries, Inc. acquires Monitor Elevator ProductsInnovation Industries, Inc. of Russellville has completed the purchase of Monitor Elevator Products of Hauppauge, N.Y., from parent company, Halma of London, UK, according to Paul Horney, President and CEO of Innovation Industries. “Monitor has been a solid competitor with a very strong presence in the Northeast U.S. market for many years,” said Horney. “Since the 1960s, Monitor has developed an excellent reputation for building high quality, ...

Fort Smith woman named in $42M indictment in NJ FORT SMITH (AP) — A federal grand jury in New Jersey has indicted a Fort Smith woman for allegedly engineering the theft of $42 million in a Ponzi scheme centered on a payment, logistics and shipping business. Prosecutors say 63-year-old Shirley Sooy turned herself in to authorities on Wednesday to face charges of wire fraud conspiracy and other fraud-related charges. Sooy is accused of running a scheme for 10 years in which a business called ...

Cotton crop declining, reversal seen JONESBORO (AP) — Despite a steep decline in the Arkansas cotton crop in recent years, an agricultural agronomist believes the drop has neared its bottom and said more acres are expected to be planted in cotton in the future. Arkansas had just below 300,000 acres planted in cotton in 2013 to break the previous record low of 320,000 acres planted in 1983, with analysts saying the rising profitability and yields of corn and soybeans resulted in t...

Governor presents honors to 5 companies LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Five Arkansas companies took home awards for excellence in global trade. Gov. Mike Beebe presented the awards at a Thursday luncheon at the Governor's Mansion. The companies are being honored for leadership in exporting goods and services. Those honored are POM Inc. of Russellville, Harris International of Springdale, Sweepscrub.com of North Little Rock, Triangle Engineering of Jacksonville and Arkansas Steel Associates in N...

Alliance Rubber Co. to expand Hot Springs facility HOT SPRINGS (AP) — The largest rubber band manufacturer in the country has announced an expansion of its headquarters in Hot Springs. Alliance Rubber Company announced Wednesday that it plans to invest more than $600,000 in the new facility and add 15 jobs — bringing the facility's total employment to 166. Founded in Alliance, Ohio, in 1923, the company has had a presence in Hot Springs since 1944 after its founder visited the city for its hot...

Health Reports (May 18, 2014)Public health officials inspect restaurants for foodborne illness risk factors and good retail practices. The following items were listed on reports for Pope County restaurants inspected May 9-14. Notes and corrective actions appear in parentheses. May 9 Dover Market Market Street, Dover Foodborne illness risk factors — Complied with all regulations at time of inspection. Good retail practices — Complied with all regulations at time of inspect...